All members of the School Board work together to move the district forward while always keeping in mind what is in the best interest of the children of Harlandale. The Harlandale ISD Board of Trustees is made up of seven individuals who were elected into their positions by the community. The four men and three women meet once a month for a public meeting held at different campuses. They are also assigned to sit on specific Board and District Committees.

City Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran made one of her campaign promises come true. On July 13, she and staff members hosted the grand opening of the new District 3 field office at 3319 Sidney Brooks, Building 510, just a few miles east of Harlandale ISD. More than 100 community members, including HISD School Board Vice President Juan Mancha and his family, helped mark the milestone.

Viagran won the seat with 51% of the vote over incumbent Leticia Ozuna and Gabriel Velasquez during the May 11th election. She had promised to make herself accessible to the community.

“When you come into this office, we want you to feel like you have been heard. This is the place for us to come together, to connect, and to find workable solutions,” Viagran told supporters who packed into the field office while others waited outside to greet her.

Viagran addressed the crowd as a whole, thanking her family, business leaders and constituents. Between the hugs, handshakes and congratulatory statements that followed, she also took a few minutes to talk about the importance of businesses and education.

“I’m very excited to say that we’re going to be having a leadership development in District 3 to make sure we tap all high school students because we know it is a community that educates everyone together,” Viagran stated.

Viagran’s hope is that businesses and schools hold each other accountable so that schools develop strong leaders and current business leaders invest in schools.

“We need to look at relationships because there are so many small businesses on the south side and businesses run by families. We are all a family,” she said.